Effectiveness of endoscopic treatment of duplex system ureteroceles in children

Objective. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficiency of transurethral incision of ureteroceles and incidence of vesicoureteral reflux in pediatric patients with duplex system ureterocele. Materials and methods. This is a retrospective study of 155 pediatric patients with duplex system ureterocele. The age of patients at the time of surgery ranged from 5 days to 17 years (median 8.0 months). Intravesical ureterocele had 108 patients (69.8%), extravesical 47 (30.2%). Results. Complications occurred in 2 patients (1.3%), recurrence obstruction was in 1 case (0.6%). Ipsilateral vesicoureteral reflux after surgery had 112 patients (72.3%): in the upper pole 51 cases (32.9%), in the lower pole 32 (20.6%), in both ureters 29 (18.7%). In the long-term period after transurethral incision of ureteroceles 97 patients (62.5%) needed reoperation due to infection and voiding dysfunction. Statistically significant risk factors associated with the need for reoperation were the presence of vesicoureteral reflux on the ureteroceles side and non-functioning upper pole of the kidney. Conclusion. Transurethral incision of ureteroceles for duplex system ureterocele is a safe and effective minimally invasive method of primary resolving of the obstruction. Vesicoureteral reflux on the ureterocele side after surgery had 72.3% of patients; reoperation in the long term was necessary in 62.5% cases. The main risk factor reoperation is vesicoureteral reflux on the ureterocele side.